Fästingar

[Aussie]

Hi all,

Just back from a few days out sailing and exploring the islands around here. Because of the unseasonally warm spring, the dreaded fästingar (ticks) are already out in force! We have picked 2 off our dog in the last two days. Luckily she is white, with very pale pink skin so we could easily see them.

I just wanted to warn everyone to take care when out in nature and keep an eye on yourself, your kids and pets. A friend of mine in Stockholm contracted TBE three years ago from a tick bite and he was seriously ill for several months.

You can get vaccinated against them for 240SEK (a good idea if you are spending a lot of time out hiking). There is a lot of good information as well as details on where you can get vaccinations on the website at Fasting.nu

[Carolyn]

Thanks for the info. Anders says it tends to be especially bad in the Stockholm area, for some reason. Does anybody know if feeding garlic to your pooch works with ticks the way it does with fleas?

[Aussie]

Carolyn,

Yvonne (from Eskilstuna) recommends using something called Frontline for protecting the dog. She has a black dog, so can't see the ticks. In her opinion, it's a great product. She said they have ticks there in Eskilstuna and that's not too far away from you guys.

Swedish information is at Veter.se